Fair Trade

More than a feel good gesture, Fair Trade Certified herbs, spices teas and oils translates into guaranteed fair wages while providing premiums paid directly to tea workers through vigorous oversight and arbitration. This assists many global peoples by providing the funds necessary for basic services that most of us often take for granted. This includes adequate housing, healthy food, necessary clothing, basic healthcare, and education. Our guarantee to you is that when you purchase any product from Mountain Rose Herbs with the Fair Trade label, a portion of the sale is being re-directed to agricultural communities that have been traditionally exploited for generations for the purpose of providing a more hopeful future. Any product bearing this seal went through rigorous inspections, audits and reviews. The harvest sites are monitored to guarantee that workers are treated fairly and are receiving just compensation and a livable wage. This process will also assist farmers during times of market fluctuations. When prices plummet dramatically, harvesters are given a set wage from the beginning thus providing financial security and a secured wage. Historically tea and coffee have been the major crops offered as Fair Trade Certified, however this has changed recently with the introduction of Fair Trade herbs, spices and oils!

Good Trade

We have taken one additional step which goes beyond traditional Fair Trade practices through the adoption of our Good Trade Program which we feel enhances the protective measures put into place for growers and harvesters. While Fair Trade programs are beneficial and important, they only allocate a certain percentage of the transaction to those involved with the production of goods, and this is done without direct negotiating rights being exercised by the growers, and the premiums added to the products they offer are strictly determined by external market forces. What we have developed in our Good Trade Program is a business model where the growers get full negotiation rights for the products they grow, and they in turn dictate what prices Mountain Rose Herbs shall pay for goods, and not the other way around. When the growers set the price, we can all be assured that farming families and workers receive the financial security they feel is necessary to continue their agricultural heritage that we all rely upon for our very survival. Virtually all of the dried herbs and spices that Mountain Rose Herbs offers in bulk are in accordance with the Good Trade Program.

• Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.

• Fair labor conditions : Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.

• Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

• Democratic and transparent organizations : Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest Fair Trade revenues.

• Community development : Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement training, and organic certification.

• Environmental sustainability : Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers' health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.